pointed of his prey, De Bagnol issued an edict commanding them within
three days to return and present themselves at the fort. No exception was
to be allowed for age, sex, or condition. The majority were wise enough to
disobey this order, but some, thinking they might be allowed to cultivate
their lands again, ventured to return, but, alas! they had occasion to
bitterly lament the result. Whilst the commandant of the fortress of La
Torre ordered the fugitives to return, Janavello exerted his influence to
keep them back. Before the final date, June 25th, 1662, had arrived, an
army, commanded by the Marquises of Fleury and Angrogna, appeared at the
entrance of the Val Pelice, so that the Vaudois could no longer doubt the
intentions of their enemies. But at this stage happened one of those
remarkable displays of loyalty to their prince on the part of the Vaudois
which was only equalled by their fidelity to God. The troops of the duke
were prevented by the armed population of the valleys from crossing the end
so as to reach the fort of Mirabouc beyond Bobbio, which was then destitute
of provisions, and which it was desired to reinforce. Under these
circumstances the commanders of the Piedmontese troops requested the chief
persons of the commune to give a proof of submission and good-will to their
sovereign by escorting a convoy which was on its way to the fortress. They
were assured that if they would do this that peace would be promptly
restored. The devoted Vaudois, more willing to risk their own safety than
appear to distrust their prince, complied with this request; yea, even more
than once, though a war of extermination was being urged against them; for
their enemies, unable to discover any marks of merit in those they
stigmatized as heretics, were seeking to occupy the heights of La Vachere
and obtain possession of their citadel, the Pra del Torre. On the 6th of
July, 1663, the enemy ascended the mountains from four different points.
The two first divisions, numbering four thousand men, were fortifying
themselves on the hill of Plans before attempting to force through the
narrow pass called the gate of Angrogna, occupied by a detachment of
Vaudois placed there by Janavello. In the meantime the two other divisions
of the enemy's force, approaching from the side of Giovanni and La Torre,
repulsed the six or seven hundred mountaineers who had been hastily
gathered at that point; but when they reached the rocks and ruins of